Exclusive:Hearts player out for up to six weeks, plus a Lawrence Shankland issue and Ageu update ahead of Dundee United
Scotland call-ups well received ahead of the World Cup qualifiers
Derek McInnes is delighted seeing Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland and goalkeeper Craig Gordon back in the Scotland squad. After conversations with national coach Steve Clarke, McInnes hopes both his players feature in this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark.
The Tynecastle head coach helped convince Shankland to stay at Hearts and sign a new three-year contract over the summer. Despite 11 new signings arriving, McInnes views the striker as his most important capture. Ten goals in his first 15 games of the campaign earned Shankland a Scotland recall this week.
“Lawrence has been in good form. He was such a key signing,” McInnes told the Edinburgh News. “I know we've had a lot of recognition for the signings we made but I'm keen to stress the importance of the players already in the building. Keeping Lawrence, for me, was the most significant signing. It's great he has started the season so strongly, not just in terms of his goals but also his performances.
“Hopefully it's a successful campaign for us all and he ends up being part of a Scotland squad at the World Cup. It would be great if he played his part in getting there. When Steve got in touch on Sunday about Craig and Lawrence, I was delighted. When I passed that on to Lawrence, he was over the moon. It's good recognition for him.”
Gordon is a strong contender to play from the start in both World Cup qualifiers despite not playing competitively since May. Injuries precluded him from Hearts’ pre-season and he is now sitting on the bench at Tynecastle, with Alexander Schwolow first-choice. Scotland are without injured No.1 Angus Gunn, so Gordon’s rivals in the latest squad are Falkirk’s Scott Bain and Rangers’ Liam Kelly. The last of Bain’s three caps was six years ago and Kelly - out of favour at Rangers - holds only one cap from a friendly against France in 2023.
Gordon has 81 caps to his name and is by far the most experienced goalkeeper available. “If Craig gets the nod, it will be great for him but that's obviously Steve's decision,” said McInnes. “He has been such a key performer for Scotland in the past and I'm sure he will continue to be that. That will be his hope.
“It's up to Steve how he judges the situation but Craig has performed in training and bounce games for us. He obviously missed pre-season but he's got the experience to deal with that side of it. It might be a bit more natural for him than maybe other keepers. If called upon, I've got no doubts he will be ready to perform. He has been sitting on our bench of late and I'm comfortable if we have to call on him.”
Hearts’ injury issues are easing slightly ahead of Sunday’s Premiership match with Dundee United. Shankland sat out training earlier this week due to a foot knock but is expected to resume full sessions either today or tomorrow. Midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is looking at up to six weeks out to let a hamstring problem heal, although goalkeeper Ryan Fulton and defender Frankie Kent are back. Midfielder Eduardo Ageu is expected to be available against United after his own hamstring issue.
“Lawrence took a kick to the bridge of his foot. He missed training earlier this week but just because we don't want to aggravate it by getting another kick,” said McInnes. “Ageu will do some training this week, he has been out running with the physios and hasn't had any reaction. We took a wee precaution with him last the weekend to get that checked out but he's all good.
"Ryan Fulton is back working with the goalkeepers and Frankie Kent is back training as well. It's only really Finlay Pollock and Calem Nieuwenhof who are out. Nieuwenhof will probably be four to six weeks. It's one we need to give a bit more time to because he's been stop-start with this since the start of the season. We need to take time to get that right once and for all.”